[PHNUTR-L] Calcium, Exercise Vital for Kids' Bones

[Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD]

Colleagues, the following is FYI and does not necessarily reflect my own
opinion. I have no further knowledge of the topic. If you do not wish to
receive these posts, set your email filter to filter out any messages
coming from   @nutritionucanlivewith.com    and the program will remove
anything coming from me.
---------------------------------------------------------
Calcium, Exercise Vital for Kids' Bones
(Associated Press/AP Online)
Updated: Feb 6th 2006
http://mentalhelp.net/poc/view_doc.php?type=news&id=84404&cn=28

By LINDSEY TANNER

CHICAGO - Doctors should evaluate children for the amount of calcium 
they get and encourage them to exercise to help prevent an epidemic of 
broken bones later in life, the American Academy of Pediatrics advises.

National data show that most American children over age 8 don't get 
enough calcium, a deficiency that increases their risks for developing 
osteoporosis in adulthood, the academy said in a report released Monday 
in the journal Pediatrics.

The bone-thinning disease is associated with aging and afflicts 10 
million Americans, mostly older women. National data show it is 
responsible for more than 1.5 million bone fractures each year.

There's also evidence suggesting that fractures may be on the rise in 
U.S. adolescents, perhaps because calcium-deficient diets and little 
exercise already have weakened their bones even if they haven't yet 
developed osteoporosis, said Dr. Craig B. Langman, who treats pediatric 
bone problems at Chicago's Children's Memorial Hospital.

"We really should be having more recommendations to pediatricians to 
think about long-term bone health in kids. This is an excellent first 
step in doing that," said Langman, who was not involved in the report.

advertisement

Calcium is needed for bone formation, and weight-bearing exercise 
strengthens bones. For children, it could include soccer, basketball, 
football, running - essentially any repetitive activity in which the 
arms or legs bear the body's weight.

"You can take all the calcium you want, but if you don't do any 
weight-bearing activity, you don't have good bone health," said report 
co-author Dr. Frank Greer, a member of the academy's nutrition committee 
and pediatrics professor at the University of Wisconsin.

U.S. youngsters are deficient in both for several reasons, Greer said: 
They drink sodas instead of milk or calcium-fortified juice; they're 
spending more time on TV, computers and video games, instead of 
exercising; and many schools have phased out organized physical activities.

Milk and other dairy products are the most common calcium sources in 
traditional Western diets, but there's no evidence that they are 
superior to other sources, such as broccoli, Swiss chard and collard 
greens, the report said. Still, children tend to avoid those, too, Greer 
said.

The Pediatrics report recommends doctors screen for calcium intake and 
bone health three times during childhood: at age 2 to 3 after weaning 
from breast milk or formula; at age 8 to 9, before the adolescent growth 
spurt; and again during puberty or teen years, when the peak rate of 
bone mass growth occurs.

Screening can include simple questions about diet, milk consumption, 
amount of exercise, bone fractures and family history of osteoporosis, 
the report said.

The report includes sample questions and recommendations for daily 
calcium intake at various ages. It comes three years after the academy 
issued guidelines for vitamin D, which is needed to help the body absorb 
calcium. The 2003 guidelines recommend vitamin D supplements for babies 
who only get breast-milk and older children at risk for deficiency.

Many U.S. youngsters are vitamin D deficient too because they don't 
drink vitamin D-fortified milk and lack adequate exposure - without 
sunscreen - to sunlight, which is needed for the body to produce the 
vitamin. Doctors say only 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure weekly is 
needed for adequate vitamin D production.
-- 
Kathrynne Holden, MS, RD < fivestar at nutritionucanlivewith.com >
"Ask the Parkinson Dietitian"  http://www.parkinson.org/
"Eat well, stay well with Parkinson's disease"
"Parkinson's disease: Guidelines for Medical Nutrition Therapy"
http://www.nutritionucanlivewith.com/